Elyse Skinner
Elyse is泭from Littleton, Colorado. She worked in the front office as a Peer Advisor. Last spring, she泭defended her Honors Thesis - Designing an Immersive World: Exploring Theme Parks through Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
泭
Where are you from?
I was born in China and then I was adopted at seven months old. My mom and I live in Littleton, Colorado so, Im not too far from here.
What year of study are you in?
Im a senior in Environmental Design and Im specializing in Design Studies.
Why did you choose to come to CU Boulder?
I knew I wanted to stay泭in-state, just because Im really close to my family and I didnt泭want to make that big of a jump泭just out of high school. When it came to expenses, it was also a lot more costly to go out of state. So, when I was looking泭at some of the larger schools, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado obviously jump out at me. CSU didnt have any sort of design program that I was interested in, and I ended up visiting ENVD when I was researching CU. It seemed pretty open-option for a major, with architecture and landscape architecture for people who are searching, and thats泭where I felt like I was. So, I thought it would be a good fit for me to test it out and see if it was what I wanted to do. I did a泭tour and fell in love with泭CU campus, because its really pretty with the Flatirons. All of that led泭me to ENVD.
Why were your drawn to the Program in Environmental Design (ENVD)?
There were so many options in the different tracks you could choose within the major, like design studies, which Im in - that's泭what really interested me the most. I was like, oh thats cool they have this separate option, it wasnt that泭you have to do architecture and only get an architecture degree. CU Denver had architecture, but I wasnt quite sure thats what I wanted to do. I knew泭I wanted to do design and ENVD seemed like the best opportunity for that.
I went to a CU event and talked to advisors. I could tell by the vibe that it was泭where I wanted to be. I remember there was a sticky note board that asked what do you want to do after you graduate? Just seeing the different array of what people wanted to do, there were lots of options, and I felt like the people here could let me experiment with that and get me to where I want泭to go.
How do you stay involved on campus?泭
Im泭involved in a lot of ENVD related stuff, just because I love the community. Im the president of the Environmental Design Student Government (EDSG). I have an on campus job as泭the Peer Advisor coordinator for ENVD, and I used to be a peer leader for a section of the ENVD 1004 class.
Im also involved with泭scholarships through泭Designers Without Boundaries, and we do a lot of different volunteer community activities as well as group bonding. I also volunteer for the Peer Mentor Program. Since my sophomore year Ive had a freshmen or two that I mentor. Its been really fun.
When I was a freshman and sophomore I was involved in CRU, which is Campus Crusade for Christ. Its a christian ministry on campus. I really enjoyed it and found a lot of my friends through that. I have friends at ENVD but it was a different atmosphere.
What do you like to do in your spare time, outside of the classroom?泭
I really enjoy hanging with my friends and my fiance, which is such the typical answer. I like listening to music and I like singing, and when I can I like going to plays and musicals. I wish I could be more involved in choirs. It was more of my hobby in high school and its kind of hard to find it in the adult world, except for on campus, but then its a class.
I like doing workout classes more than just working out by myself. I like playing frisbee golf as well as just frisbee. I love to read, but I dont have time to read during school, and a lot of the stuff I like to do is more of me sitting there and browsing the internet or watching a TV show to just decompress. A lot of my friends and I like to play board games and do big group outings and things like that.
Talk to me a little about your Honors Thesis? 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭
Its been an interesting challenge.
Is it a semester long thing?泭
Its a year long thing. You start in the fall and it goes through the spring. You apply in the spring before you want to do your thesis, and during the summer you work on preparing for the fall. Then you take a class with Georgia Lindsay, shes the honors council representative for ENVD, and its a really good class and everyone has a different project and it can either be design related, or it can be more research based. My idea definitely changed around a lot from the summer to when I actually started working on it. Georgia has been really helpful at narrowing it down for me泭and providing insight on how to make it successful.
What is your topic?
Ive been interested in space design and theme park design overall. I decided to look at an immersive theme park design, which arguably all theme parks are immersive, but for me it is without the ride aspect. I wanted to really focus on what would make this an enjoyable experience exclusive of泭the rides, because I think many parts of泭theme parks are enjoyable, not just the roller coasters, etc.. So, I'm focusing on泭just the atmosphere aspect, especially since roller coasters are more of an engineering thing.
Its been a challenge because I'm泭dealing with writing and design泭and a泭completely different way泭of thinking with泭a lot to get done. This semester, we defend in April and finish it off with the Honors Symposium.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
During my time at CU Ive learned a lot泭about what I like and dislike in design, what I want泭out of a work environment and that sort of thing, so Im kind of torn between two different options right now. My design-oriented option involves , which is in Santa Fe and is adding泭another location in泭Denver. I would really love to work for them. Its kind of like my dream job. They do a lot of interactive, immersive art installations and Ive always loved immersive spaces and hands-on design, and more of the creative, fun, fantastical design. So, thats what I really want to do. I think its definitely been a challenge for me with some of the things that Ive done here to show that Im eligible to work there, so its one of the things Ive been looking into. I do feel like I kind of have a niche field that I specifically want to go into for my career.
Another thing that Ive learned, through the jobs Ive had in college, is that I actually like administrative work and working with college students, organizing and coordinating event. I泭love being down in the front office so, Im also interested in campus, university jobs.泭Something along those lines. Or advising, even though I didnt get an education degree. I just really enjoy the different roles, working on programmatic elements, and designing events as well as working with students and supervising. I like that type of atmosphere too, so Im kind of split right now.
What advice would you give to underclassmen and future students?泭
For ENVD students, I think really finding what it is youre passionate about is important. If your passion is design and you are having trouble finding itfreshman year is can be rough at firstjust persevere. Find some upperclassmen mentors that can show you泭the ropes in泭ENVD and how it works, especially as you get into your high-level classes.
Faculty, staff and upperclassmen are here to help you succeed and the advisors are great at helping you figure out what you want to do in the realm of design. They are here for you and theyll help you find internships and jobs, even if it doesnt seem like a direct path. If your path is less direct, ENVD can still be a good fit for you, but you have to decide how to make the best use of your time here.
For students in general, this coming from my past mistakes, Id say definitely get involved but leave time to not become an overstressed human being. I think freshman year is one of the most exciting years of college, because theres just so much to do. Theres an endless number泭of opportunities and nobody is telling you can or cannot do all tof hese different things. Get involved with different activities, whether its in clubs within your major or outside. I think a lot of people make friends that way.
Definitely try not to take things for granted. I do more as a senior than I did as a freshman. Its been such a privilege to come to a really good university and have such esteemed professors teaching our classes, even when youre tired and dont want to go. Just know that youre actually learning something important泭and always泭working towards your goals.